One day an old raven came to the ocean shore to eat. He found a large crab under a stone, grabbed it with his beak, pulled it out and was just about to break it and eat it when other crabs grabbed it by the paws!
- Kra-kra! - The raven was surprised.
The crab immediately fell out of his beak and was gone!
But the other crabs were not afraid - they held the raven and did not let go. It's bad!
“Okay,” said the raven. “I won’t touch you anymore.” Let me go!
But the crabs don’t let go: apparently they don’t believe the raven. The raven got scared and began to cajole the crabs:
- How beautiful you are, kra-kra! How I like you! Do you want me to give you my aunt as your wife?
“Real crabs don’t marry crows,” one of the crabs finally responded, and the others agreed with him.
- How big you all are, kra-kra! - continued the raven. - Do you want me to give you my grandfather’s kayak? Brand new!
“Real crabs don’t need a kayak,” said the smallest crab coldly, and the others proudly turned away.
“What should we do? — the raven was confused. “The water is coming!”
- Large carp! - he begged. - Let me go! I'll drown!
The crabs are silent, at least one would respond.
- Oh, what a stream is disappearing! - the raven sighed. - I just flew in to give you that stream, but something started babbling, kra-kra...
- What stream? Where is he? — the crabs were alarmed and immediately released the raven.
“Come on, I’ll see you off,” the raven laughed, flapped his wings and flew along the shore.
And the few brave souls who followed him quickly knocked off their shoes on the rocks and returned.
A raven flew along the shore and suddenly saw a fish.
“Someone lost it,” the raven decided and began to feast on it.
I ate my fill and flew on. It flies and shines in the sun: the scales are stuck to the feathers, so it shines. A raven looks at a bear standing on the shore, skinning a deer.
- Kra-kra! - the raven called out to him. The bear raised his head and was surprised:
- What's wrong with you, raven?
- Sorry, bear, I'm in a hurry. You see: I didn’t even have time to clean myself.
- What happened? - the bear is not far behind.
- Oh, I'm afraid you won't have time, clubfoot. There's so much of it there!.. Enough for the whole winter, unless, of course, they take it away.
-What are you talking about? About fish? — the bear finally guessed.
- Well, yes! — the raven was happy. “Run quickly, and I’ll watch the deer.”
The bear hurried to the fish, and the raven calmly began to take care of the deer. He ate his fill and flew away, only he was seen.
The bear returned angry and tired, but the crow had disappeared without a trace: it flew away from the shore so as not to catch the bear’s eye. And he wanted berries: after fish and venison, it would be nice to eat berries.
The raven flew to the squirrel. He sat down near her house and began to wait. And here is a squirrel with a basket jumping on the branches, in a hurry to get home. He looks - a raven is sitting on the threshold.
“Please step aside,” the squirrel asks the crow. “I have hungry squirrels there.”
“It’s nothing,” the raven waved its wing. “We haven’t seen each other for so many years, kra... Tell me better, what’s the news?” Did you hear someone made the bear angry? They say that he is now angry with the whole world, kra... Why are you silent?
“The baby squirrels are waiting for me, let me go,” the squirrel asked again. “I’ll be back soon.” I'm bringing them food...
“Yes, I’m in a hurry myself,” the raven assured her. “It was only because of you that I was delayed.” And what berries you have! One is better than the other!
The raven glanced sideways at the basket, and the squirrel looked at him. He looks and says:
- You know what, let's dance! And then I'll treat you to some berries, okay?
- Fine! — the raven was happy. “It’s just a pity, there’s no music, and I’m in a hurry.” Let's start right with the berries, shall we?
“Ha-ha-ha,” the squirrel laughed. “But you probably don’t even know how to dance!”
“Well, yes,” the raven was offended. “Do you know how musical we crows are?”
“We too,” said the squirrel proudly. “Let me sing, and you dance.” Let's see how you do!
- Kra! — the raven flapped his wings. “I can do it with my eyes closed.” Get started!
And the raven, closing his eyes, circled over the tree. And the squirrel immediately darted into its house.
- How can you! — the raven then became indignant. “Such a little thing—and such a liar!”
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru